Naloxone

Excerpt

Over the past 2 decades, the increase in opioid overdose incidents nationwide has resulted in a significant surge in morbidity and mortality rates. Naloxone is a crucial intervention in this crisis and has been used for over 50 years as an opioid antidote. Naloxone operates as a competitive antagonist to the μ-opioid receptor. Beyond its conventional hospital deployment, naloxone is used extensively by emergency medical personnel and law enforcement agencies, and its accessibility as an over-the-counter product allows family members and caregivers to administer this antidote when needed. This activity provides healthcare professionals with important information about naloxone, including its indications, mechanism of action, administration modalities, notable adverse effects, contraindications, monitoring protocols, precautions, and pharmacokinetic profiles. The focus of this discussion is to deliver the requisite knowledge and discuss resources for proficient patient management during naloxone administration. By fostering a deeper understanding, this educational endeavor allows learners to determine effective dosage regimens, mitigate adverse reactions, and enhance overall patient outcomes in situations requiring naloxone intervention.